FRCV Delays Force Indian Army to Consider T-72 Service Life Extension Up To 2035, PSQR Delays Main Culprit

The Indian Army's ambitious Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) project, aimed at modernizing its armored fleet, has hit a roadblock, forcing the Army to consider extending the service life of its aging T-72 tanks well into the 2030s. According to sources the FRCV project, which seeks to replace the Soviet-era T-72s with a new generation of main battle tanks (MBTs), is stalled at the design stage.

The FRCV initiative is a cornerstone of India's military modernization strategy. It aims to equip the Army with technologically advanced tanks featuring superior mobility, enhanced survivability, and potent firepower, capable of operating across diverse terrains and meeting the challenges of modern warfare. However, bureaucratic and procedural hurdles have prevented the project from progressing beyond its initial phases.

A major cause for the delay is the Army's struggle to finalize the provisional staff qualitative requirements (PSQR) for the FRCV. The PSQR is a critical document that outlines the specific requirements and capabilities the new tank must possess, serving as the benchmark for companies bidding to develop the FRCV. Without a finalized PSQR, the project cannot advance to the crucial stages of prototype development, trials, and final selection.

Due to this impasse, sources suggest the Indian Army may be forced to operate its T-72 tanks until at least 2035. While the T-72, first inducted in the 1970s, has undergone several upgrades to extend its service life, its obsolescence in the face of modern combat scenarios is a growing concern.

To address this gap, the Army will continue investing in upgrades for its T-72 fleet, including improvements to engines, thermal imaging, and fire-control systems. However, these measures are considered temporary solutions.

Once the PSQR is finalized and issued, the FRCV project will invite proposals from interested companies, leading to a competitive selection process. The chosen companies will then develop prototypes, followed by rigorous trials. However, the timeline for the FRCV's final selection and induction now appears likely to extend beyond the initially planned five years.

This delay in the FRCV program highlights the challenges India faces in its pursuit of defence modernization. While the need for a next-generation main battle tank is evident, navigating bureaucratic hurdles and finalizing critical requirements remain significant obstacles. The extended reliance on the aging T-72 underscores the urgency of streamlining procurement processes and expediting the FRCV project to ensure the Indian Army remains equipped to meet future challenges.

 

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[Anant]

Fantastic. Seems we have another MiG-21 saga coming in for these obsolescent deathtraps.

Given the performance of Russian tanks in Ukraine, we should have been seriously looking at replacing even the T-90 by 2040 or so, but it now seems we will be keeping these T-72s by that point. Just great.

The Army's procurement system is still messed up. Here's an idea: As expensive as this may be, buy or build a few hundred Leopard 2 variants or something, and push the T-72 into retirement, or at most, second-line roles.

 

[GMR]

We Are becoming world beaters in life extension for defence relic platforms... cheers

 

[kumar]

This is the root cause of arjun saga. What more clear fact than this. If they are unable to draft the requirements for more than a decade, how will any project move forward. If they are not even able to draft requirements, they are bound to mess up the evaluation process.

 

[Kira]

Fantastic. Seems we have another MiG-21 saga coming in for these obsolescent deathtraps.

Given the performance of Russian tanks in Ukraine, we should have been seriously looking at replacing even the T-90 by 2040 or so, but it now seems we will be keeping these T-72s by that point. Just great.

The Army's procurement system is still messed up. Here's an idea: As expensive as this may be, buy or build a few hundred Leopard 2 variants or something, and push the T-72 into retirement, or at most, second-line roles.

Leopards are still largely obsolete by today's and near future standards, the only decisively superior aspect of them compared to the T series tanks is their much better crew survival capabilities when hit by drones and other munitions.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Don't create delays which may lead to emergency and subsequently imports.

 

[Taus Melek]

Over fifty years old tank, and the Indian army still wants keep going with these dinosaurs. Next they will want to reintroduce the flint-lock musket for the jawans!

 

[Sandeep]

India already set out the requirements and capabilities already and design work was being done by the companies. This is either fake news or they withdrew those requirements in favour of new ones.

Also India has already upgraded the T72 tank as much as possible and there’s really nothing more that we can add or change to improve its performance or lethality.

 

[Anant]

Leopards are still largely obsolete by today's and near future standards, the only decisively superior aspect of them compared to the T series tanks is their much better crew survival capabilities when hit by drones and other munitions.

Boss, survivability is key here. Even something like a Leopard 2A4 is significantly better in that regard than whatever modernised T-72 Russia has been using.

See, a tank knocked out of action is a tank and crew that can be recovered and join the fight again. A tank that becomes a candidate in the Tank Turret Tossing Championship is a tank, and more unfortunately a crew, that is lost forever.

Oh, and that is to say nothing of something like the Leopard 2A7 or 2A8, which are still perfectly good by modern standards. Of course, as we know, even the Franco-German replacement project for the Leclercs and Leopard 2s respectively is apparently delayed to the 2040s.

 

[Anant]

Don't create delays which may lead to emergency and subsequently imports.

We are already beyond that point. We should have been working on a T-90 replacement by now (in the initial stages of that, but it should have begun), and we are instead looking at retaining these deathtrap T-72s for even longer.

At thus point, imports (or some form of license production) may well be the only viable option. I'd much rather spend more to keep our capability and crews safe rather than risk both on these obsolete T-72s.

 

[Anant]

India already set out the requirements and capabilities already and design work was being done by the companies. This is either fake news or they withdrew those requirements in favour of new ones.

Also India has already upgraded the T72 tank as much as possible and there’s really nothing more that we can add or change to improve its performance or lethality.

Hence showing that the T-72 is already obsolete. We should have been working on a T-90 replacement by now, and we are stuck with these deathtraps instead.

 

[Rajesh]

Or we cound find a temporary solution like by increasing the zorawar tank design to a 50-55 ton configuration. Use the 125mm gun (since we already have the infrastructure) is already there along with drones and all the self defence mechanisms available now. Can be a good export options.